Table 6.
Changes in blood test markers in the subjects of the placebo and CM groups during the study period.
| Groups | 0 Week | 4 Weeks | 8 Weeks | 16 Weeks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GT (IU/L) | Placebo | 22.73 ± 5.35 | 24.55 ± 8.04 | 23.45 ± 7.93 | 22.00 ± 5.50 |
| CM | 21.45 ± 5.65 | 24.73 ± 10.90 | 24.09 ± 8.13 | 21.09 ± 5.99 | |
| Mann–Whitney U | NS | NS | NS | NS | |
| AST (U/L) | Placebo | 39.45 ± 22.15 | 46.00 ± 27.04 | 32.00 ± 10.14 | 38.55 ± 13.84 |
| CM | 29.27 ± 8.91 | 33.27 ± 12.77 | 26.00 ± 6.26 | 28.55 ± 6.68 | |
| Mann–Whitney U | NS | NS | NS | NS | |
| ALT (U/L) | Placebo | 7.32 ± 0.35 | 7.34 ± 0.37 | 7.17 ± 0.33 | 7.14 ± 0.34 |
| CM | 7.24 ± 0.30 | 7.30 ± 0.17 | 7.35 ± 0.38 | 7.19 ± 0.25 | |
| Mann–Whitney U | NS | NS | NS | NS | |
| C-reacting protein (mg/dL) | Placebo | 0.36 ± 0.89 | 0.05 ± 0.06 | 0.02 ± 0.01 ** | 0.05 ± 0.02 |
| CM | 0.05 ± 0.03 | 0.04 ± 0.01 | 0.04 ± 0.01 | 0.06 ± 0.03 | |
| Mann–Whitney U | NS | NS | NS | NS | |
| Urea nitrogen (mg/dL) | Placebo | 19.85 ± 5.93 | 18.51 ± 4.56 | 15.09 ± 2.99 *** | 15.62 ± 3.41 ** |
| CM | 18.92 ± 6.37 | 17.75 ± 5.12 | 14.32 ± 3.28 *** | 15.21 ± 4.78 * | |
| Mann–Whitney U | NS | NS | NS | NS | |
| Uric acid (mg/dL) | Placebo | 5.78 ± 0.80 | 5.92 ± 0.95 | 5.51 ± 0.83 | 4.95 ± 0.66 * |
| CM | 5.85 ± 0.89 | 5.86 ± 0.65 | 5.34 ± 0.65 | 4.94 ± 0.78 | |
| Mann–Whitney U | NS | NS | NS | NS | |
| Creatinine (mg/dL) | Placebo | 0.78 ± 0.08 | 0.78 ± 0.09 | 0.75 ± 0.07 | 0.78 ± 0.08 |
| CM | 0.82 ± 0.06 | 0.83 ± 0.08 | 0.79 ± 0.06 | 0.80 ± 0.05 | |
| Mann–Whitney U | NS | NS | NS | NS | |
| Testosterone (ng/mL/L) | Placebo | 6.25 ± 1.85 | 6.09 ± 2.14 | 6.05 ± 1.83 | 6.09 ± 1.95 |
| CM | 7.24 ± 2.39 | 7.05 ± 2.33 | 7.12 ± 2.16 | 7.01 ± 1.76 | |
| Mann–Whitney U | NS | NS | NS | NS | |
| Sodium (mEq/L) | Placebo | 140.36 ± 1.29 | 140.18 ± 0.87 | 140.00 ± 1.00 | 140.91 ± 0.94 |
| CM | 141.18 ± 1.17 | 140.73 ± 1.27 | 140.45 ± 1.04 | 141.27 ± 1.35 | |
| Mann–Whitney U | NS | NS | NS | NS | |
| Potassium (mEq/L) | Placebo | 4.35 ± 0.41 | 4.17 ± 0.28 | 4.14 ± 0.29 | 4.32 ± 0.24 |
| CM | 4.12 ± 0.15 | 4.15 ± 0.29 | 4.15 ± 0.20 | 4.39 ± 0.34 | |
| Mann–Whitney U | NS | NS | NS | NS | |
| Calcium (mg/dL) | Placebo | 9.41 ± 0.23 | 9.35 ± 0.25 | 9.45 ± 0.23 | 9.41 ± 0.21 |
| CM | 9.41 ± 0.20 | 9.44 ± 0.31 | 9.52 ± 0.20 | 9.51 ± 0.29 | |
| Mann–Whitney U | NS | NS | NS | NS | |
| Magnesium (mg/dL) | Placebo | 2.31 ± 0.11 | 2.30 ± 0.13 | 2.23 ± 0.13 | 2.32 ± 0.10 |
| CM | 2.25 ± 0.09 | 2.26 ± 0.12 | 2.23 ± 0.12 | 2.29 ± 0.11 | |
| Mann–Whitney U | NS | NS | NS | NS | |
| Chloride (mEq/L) | Placebo | 103.27 ± 1.10 | 103.64 ± 0.92 | 103.09 ± 1.30 | 103.45 ± 1.13 |
| CM | 103.55 ± 1.21 | 103.00 ± 1.34 | 103.00 ± 1.57 | 103.82 ± 1.25 | |
| Mann–Whitney U | NS | NS | NS | NS |
Values of the placebo (n = 11) and CM (n = 11) groups are shown as the mean ± SD. The Mann–Whitney U test was used for comparisons between the placebo and CM groups. The Friedman test was used for the intra-group comparison during the study period (comparison between 0 week and 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks or 16 weeks). * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001. NS, not significant.